The next time you need medical advice for a common ailment like acne, insomnia or pink eye, consider visiting your pharmacist.
Pharmacists in Alberta have the widest scope of practice in Canada, and more than 100 new community pharmacy care clinics across the province are designed to complement what is offered by physicians, walk-in clinics and emergency departments.
A new study from University of Alberta researchers reports that the community pharmacy care clinics are improving access to primary care services.
"Patients can come to a pharmacy to get primary care and chronic conditions managed, and that can decrease pressure on the rest of the health-care system," says principal investigator Scot Simpson, professor in the Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences.
"This is not about replacing family doctors, it's about enhanced access to care," says first author Yazid Al Harmaneh, assistant professor of pharmacology in the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry. "Wherever you go, there is a pharmacy. There is a clear need and a clear gap that these care clinics are fulfilling."
The new community pharmacy care clinics go beyond the traditional prescription drop-off and pick-up window within a community pharmacy setting, usually offering a separate "clinic" room where pharmacists can assess patients privately. They will assess what's wrong, prescribe or adjust medications, do some on-site tests and refer you to a family physician or a specialist if you need one.
